Hermetic seal for electrical switches



E. C. CONNELLY HERMETIC SEAL FOR ELECTRICAL SWITCHES Nov. 4, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 14, 1956 Nov; 4, 1958 E. c. CONNELLY HERMETIC SEAL FOR ELECTRICAL SWITCHES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 14, 1956 INVENTOR.

I {Eggs/zed. W

Nov. 4, 1958 E.- c. CONNELLY 2,859,313

ammxc SEAL FOR ELECTRICAL SWITCHES IN VEN TOR.

e726 (1 foizrzely,

Patented Nov. 4,-- 1-958 United States PatentfOfiice 2,859,313

' casethe switch (in a-hermetically sealed casing from which a projects a shaftby .which .the switchime chanismtist.zoper 2859313. fated. SwitchesYIof tthe. so-c alledsnap action type are I 1 a I commonly employed-.inisuch uses, such -switchesi com- HERME'IICSEAE'FOR'ELEQTRICAL SWITCHES v5 prising a casing in whichthe switchmechanism islhoused :and from whichrca sing an operating plunger or.button a I projects, this buttonilieing,.t'elescopdlintolthet casing to f 'lgi ffi sg cowchmagof'm" a corporation e bring abont an operation hi. the switch mechanism. ln 1 V l a some installations oi the kind above referred to, rotation iApplicatioliDecemher 14,1956, serial'No. 630,432 10, or oscillation. ofllheoperating shaft operatesfrthe switch mechanism,and in:othefinstaHationsaXialimovementlof "loiclmms' iichzoflfimw the shaft operates'the switchlmechanism. 'i'li'he tpresentiinvefition provides,.as. its iprinc ipaliobject, V i p r anhermtic. se'alllfor ltheQQperatingzshaftbfqanielectric 'This invention .rel'ates to a'aherme'tic seal for an 'elec- Shi which Shift Pfbjctithroligha hermtic'all'yjsald w-Eugene C3".onnelly;Chicagog lllgsassignol to- Electrotrica1-switch"that1 has an operating plunger depressible casing .innwhichllthe switchLisI-housedf. seal ofr the into"'the switch casing io operatelthe-switch,and has .present inventiont permitsflthe-shaftuto be-rotated through i forjitsprin cipal bbj ctthe; provision of a new and 101- la, wide arc orlgto be-movedaxially.thereby to operatelhe swit'chl Mechahismkcar ried bythe: operatingtshaftuimproved seal of this kind. v V V V parts. but. calculated Lmovementntd' the operating plunger It is a main objectof'the invention to provide a-heri meticallyisealedncasing enclosingan electric switch, and ofith'e switch regar'dl sseofi thexamountiof movement of to provide aherm'etieseal for a shaft that projects out the operating sliaft. i gfga sipg afid is moved to gperatelthe switch, 7 Referring 110W rVt0 the. drawingsminr mo're-I'detail,-from Another object ofrthe invention is to provide a her- Figs, l vtoi 3',tinclusive} it .willbe seenlthatuinone embodiim'etic seal-fen arotat'ablejshaft, which 'seal is stressed in :inent "of. the inventionthe'lde vice consistsnoft a bracket torque. as; the shaft is rotated in oscillatory movement lha'ving. ai frontiarm i1,- bottom- F i and imaintainsfsealwith the shaft ithroughout such ro- ,-whibh re r rmncon ins t p' d ap rt forw rdly tex- "tation. j V jtending' e'ars'-4 andS. tMounted upon: the.base arm%-2 "Another object of the invention is to provide a herofthis bracket is a switch mechanism the; particular 'metic se'ali'for'a shaft "that is moved longitudinally to details. of. whichoform 1101 0f preselltlifiventionoperate an electric switchv disposed in a. hermetically .It is sufficient, to :say'th'at 'the switch.mchaiiismvfi conse'ale'd casing. V Asists of a housing formed form inshlatingmaterial. and

Another object of the .inventiontis to ro ide 3 h r- ,from whichvtwoorrmore terminals 7-project. An operatmeticiseal for ash'aft that istrotatable in oscillatory movei g P nger} also pr j from th=h011Si11gal1di$ tele- '.ment or is moved longitudinally to operate an electric scop ilitorthat h i ing tO erred anmoperation dof the switch, which seal is capable of remaining efiective Bil/itch- 1 {through a wide range; of temperature changes. Fixed uponithel' front 1 ofthe bracket is agcylin- "Another objectjoij the invention is to provide a hermetic dIiC'al-bfiShiDg/ 10 tp bi IhIOllgh an Opening seal for a haft whieh a b ufa t ed' t.l m t "the bracket and textendsither ebeyond. Fixediintheibushwithoutsacrificing quality and which requires a minimum g 10 are bearing IneIilberSt and 12' which r-ve-a "of maintenance to keep it in proper operating condition. 10131131810 pP afsh'afti 13 in bushing- Fixed Further objects of the invention not specifically men- 1 1 e inner endroifrthe Shaft 13ii1l suitablevmalmel', "tioned here will be apparent from the detailed description 5 by a P is 15 Which, it and claims which' follow, reference being had to the ac- ..g nerally Cup sh p has y- -P companying' drawings in which a preferred mbodi t 4 'tion 16 that journals upon the outer surface of thebushof the invention. is shown byuway of example and in ing' 10. iA-Sl1it3b1ewasher'17 bearsagainst the forward 1 hi h p bushing member. lltand-withithe cam '15 serves to position Fig. 1 is an elevational view, partly-in section, showing the Shaft-J13 33135113" illithe bll-Shiflg- 'the invention; 7 The bushing v10 is fixed in .the armvl of theflbracket by ""FigjZ i a lan view, of the i venti ith th si 5() suitable means such as w eldstlswhichiform a iherm etic "shown inse'ction; "seal. Fig. 3iis an end view taken substantially along theline I *Jollmaled in T116 forwardly eXt-endillg Portions la d-'5 i p Fig 1, lookingin-thej direction of the arrows; ofthe rear arn'1'3 of the bracketis a shaft 20 .upon which Fig. 4iis a cross sectional view of another embodiment ,emop r i lever-7214s fi in en m nn r "ofthe'invention'taken along'the' line'4'4-of Fig. 5; 1o'ok- '55 by. wldsfzz- Qpefa'fing lever carries at its d 'ing "in thedifectiol1of th a a button23 which bearslagainstthe operating plunger-i=8 "Fig," 5 i -a r r jelevational i f the mbddi of the switch. ,Washers" 24 =onf the shaft-20 positionit shown'in Fig14; with'the casing in section along the line ia y inlh bfabket M11194 andiilherebylto maintain 5 -5 of Fi .4; looking in the'dire'ction of thearrowsj the buttori23 n P op egi with the P Fig. 6'is a side view in cross section of the seal applied 0 "Atits upp Operating level r s a button button Operated c fl 25,th'at' bears against -the cam 15. "'Whentthebutton 25 I Fig; 7"is arear .elevational view of. the switch shown is in engagement with the Valley POTAtiOII f h cam in Fig 6' '15, operating lever'21 is po'sitionedas shown in full lines This applicationis' a continuation-impart of my prior ifi'FI-gi i g Sp Wollfldfiroundthe Shaft application Serial No. 558,675; filed January 12, 1956. 2 a n gi e op g l-torge it'counter- The electric'switches' are commonly employed 'to confi; S6811v g' t r y to maintain. the trol circuits-in aircraft'andthe like, and to insure proper p n buttofillziinropeliting felatioll'io t Cam. operation of these switches under 'thewidely varying con- LGCated at c k f the v' illev'26 of the cam ar ditions of atmosphe'ricpressureand temperature to which inclined su'rface's""28 that merge into 'theidw'lls 29-of the such craft are subjected it'is'oftentimes'necessary to' en- '7 cam and as the shaft is rotated operating button Z5 rides over the inclined surfaces 28 into engagement with the I a sleeve 30 composed of a resilient material. Also surrounding the shaft 13 is a liner 31 that extends from the inner end of the bushing 11 into juxtaposition to the.

bushing 12, the sleeve 31 being spaced from the bushing 12 as shown. Also within the. bushing is a liner 32 that extends forwardly from the bushing 12 and terminates in juxtaposition to the bushing 11, but is spaced therefrom. The liners 31 and 32 are composed of mate- .:rial to which the material in the sleeve 30 will not bond during vulcanization; In one instance, where wide temperature, variations are required, sleeve 30 has been 7 formed of silicone rubber and the liners 31 and 32 of polytetrafluoroethylene, commercially known as Teflon,

' to which silicone will not bond. 'There are a number of other materials to which silicone rubber will not bond and their useinstead-of Teflon is contemplated. During curing of the silicone rubber'in sleeve 30, that rubber bonds to the bushing 10in the band between the end of liner 32 and the end of the bushing, as indicated at 33, and also bonds to the shaft in the band 34 adjacent the bushing 12. v v

. The particular arrangement of bonds 33' and 34 shown are' by way of example only as it is obvious that these maybe reversed as to in and out position" on shaft 13 within the teachings of the invention. Such reversal can be accomplished by positioning liner 31 against bushing 12 and liner 32 against the outer end of the cavity in bushing 10.

The assembly thus formed is inserted in a casing 35 preferably composed of steel and having a perforation in one wall thereof through which the bushing 10 and shaft 13 projects. A cap 36 is fitted over the shaft and projecting end of the bushing and welded to the outside of the casing 35 by welds 37 to secure the bracket and parts carried thereby in the casing. Cap 36 may bethreaded on its outer surface, as indicated at 38, to' facilitate mounting of the switch assembly. A cover 39 closes the rear end of the casing 35 and is secured therein by.

welds 40 which hermetically close the casing.

In Fig. 3, I have shown one side wall of the casing 35 to be equipped with a bushing 41, which bushing may conveniently be of the type shown in Roeser Patent 2,684,401, issued July 20, 1954, this bushing facilitating entrance of electric wires into the hermetically sealed casing. The particular type of bushing employed and its location in the casing is not of the essence of the present invention.

In operation, shaft 13 is rotated by suitable means, not shown, thereby to move the cam so that the operating button 25 .rides over the inclined surface 28 thereon into engagement with the dwell 29 of the cam to eifect an operation of the switch. It will be observed that the amount of rotation of the operating lever 21 is governed by thedistance between the planes of the dwell and In Figs. 4 and 5, there is shown an embodiment of the invention in which the switch mechanism is housed in a casing 44 through one wall of which the bushing 41 projects, this bushing having a radial wall 42 at its inner end which serves as -,a journal for a shaft 43. The

shaft has an outwardly extending flangelike wall 44 that journals in the bushing 41 near its outer end. 'An insulating washer 45 is held against the wall 44 of the shaft by a clamping washer 46 which is secured in the end of the bushing by a rolled-over or staked end 47 thereof.

Within the bushing and around the shaft is a sleeve of elastomer 48. that is bonded to the shaft along a band 49 at one end of the sleeve and is bonded to the bushing along a band 50 at the other end thereof. Liners 51, composed of material to which the elastomer in the sleeve 48 will not bond, are provided as before. is secured in the casing by welds 52 which form a hermetic seal.

Fixed upon the shaft 43 and abutting against a shoulder 53 thereon is a cam 54 that is held thereon by a nut 55 threaded upon the shaft. If desired, the shaft may be provided with a; keyway 56 into which a key' 57' mounted upon the cam 54 projects to prevent rotation of a forwardly extending flange 62. at its lower end,

which ears and flange abut against the frontwall of the casing to position the mounting plate therein; At the valley of the cam, and not by the degrees of the arc through which the shaft 13 may be rotated.

During rotation of the shaft, the resilient sleeve 30 is stressed in torque and maintains seal with the shaft and bushing even though'the shaft be rotated through arcs of great magnitude. When the sleeve 30 is composed of a material, such as silicone rubber which maintains its resilient characteristics over wide variations in temperature, effective seal is maintained throughout those temperatures. Upon release of the forces rotating the shaft 13 and rotation of that shaft inan opposite direction, operating button 25 moves from the dwell to the valley of the cam and operating lever 21 is rotated in a reverse direction to restore the switch to normal.

upper end of the plate 60is a rearwardly extending flange 63 and at the sides thereof are rearwardly extending ears 64, which flange .and ears may be spotwelded to the walls of the casing, as indicated at 65, to secure the mounting plate therein.

Mounted upon the mounting plate 60 as by screws 66 is a switch mechanism 67 the details of which form no part of the instant invention. As shown, the switch mechanism 67 consists of a double pole double throw snap action switch, from the housing of which eight terminals project and also an operating plunger 68 by which: the switch is operated. Other switch mechanisms may be substitutedfor the one shown by way of example, within the teachings of the invention.

Interposed between the switch mechanism 67 and the mounting plate 60 is a bracket 69 which at its upper end carries a leaf spring 70 that bears against'the operating plunger 68 and against the cam 54.

As will be seen in Fig. 5, when the shaft and cam 54 are rotated in the direction of the arrow, ear 71 formed in the spring 70 will come into engagement with the dwell 72 of the cam and spring 70 will be forced downwardly thereby to telescope operating plunger 68 into the switch housing to operate the switch. Spring '70 resists any tendency for the'plunger 68 to be'moved sideways by the rotation ,of cam 54.

Itwill be noted that with the cam in the position'shown in Fig. 5, a flattened surface 73 thereon abuts against the wall of the casing 40 to prevent rotation of the cam clockwise, as seen in this figure. After the cam has been vention may make is limited by positive stops.

As shown, the terminals of the switch mechanism 67 are connected to a bushing 75 leading out of the casing, which bushing may be-of the type shown in the aforementioned Roeser patent.

A rear wall 76 closes the casing 40- and is welded therein to hermetically seal the casing.

Bushing 41 plate 7 60 In Figs 6 .and 7 there is'showman-embodiment of the invention in:-which-the -seal is applied to a push button type of switch. In this embodiment the bushing80 has a' front'radialwall- 81-- whichsupportsthe shaft-82 *and "ing levenpivotallyfimonnted -withinis'aid casing ,and'bear- "ing againstthe'operating plunger of the switch; a cylindri- '"-cal*bu'shing= fixed in a -wall5of'"'said casing-and extending inwa'rdly therefi orn; a i shaft jourrialed' insaid bushing rn'er is 'bonded--to-thebushing "along a band 84 at *one end and to the shaft along a band 85 at the other end of the sleeve. Liners 86 are provided to prevent bonding of the elastomer to the bushing and shaft as before.

At its rear end, bushing 80 contains a counterbore 87 in which is journaled a washer 88 that abuts against the rear end 89 of the shaft 82. The shaft 82 contains a counterbore 90 in which is located a spring 91 and a head 92 of a plunger 93 that projects through the washer 88 and therebeyond. A return spring 94 encircles the plunger 93 and abuts against the washer 88 and against a Washer 95 held in the bushing 80 by the rolled-over or staked edge 96 thereof.

Fixed upon the plunger 93 is an operating bar 97 that is secured thereon in any desired maner as by a snap ring 98.

Within the casing 100, from which the bushing 80 pro jects, is a switch mechanism which in the example shown consists of a pair of switch units 101, each having an operating plunger 102. The particular type-of switch units is not of the essence of the present invention.

Fixed in the casing 100 is a header plate 103 composed of metal and in which 'glass bushings 104 are fused, and the bushings 104 are fused to contact mem-' bers 105 to which the terminals 106 of the switches 101 are fixed as by brazing, thereby to mount the switches in the casing. Terminals 107 are mounted upon the contact member 105 in any preferred manner and provide for extending the electrical connections outside of the hermetically sealed casing. As shown, switches 101 have two terminals, and the four terminals thus required are shown in Fig. 7. Suitable insulating bafiles 108 are interposed between' the terminals and the area surrounding the terminals is preferably filled with a potting compound.

In the operation of the switch shown in Figs. 6 and 7, as the push button 82 is pushed inwardly, sleeve 83 is stretched and washer 88 and plunger 93 are moved rearwardly against the tension of spring 94. Operating bar 97 is thus brought into contact with the operating push buttons 102 of the switches, telescoping those buttons into the casings of the switches thereby to operate the switch.

Should push button 82 be moved inwardly after operating bar 97 has engaged the casings of the switches 101. plunger 93 will be telescoped into the push button 82 against the tension of spring 91, thereby to prevent damage to the switch casings. Upon release of the pressure from the push button 82, spring 94 restores the mechanism to the normal position in which it is shown.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the seal of the present invention is capable of wide adaptation to switch operation wherein the operating shaft is rotated or oscillated, and also to switches operated by a push button. The seal is maintained over a wide range of operation and the travel imparted to the operating plunger of the switch mechanism is limited to a precalculated amount.

While I have chosen to show my invention by illustrating and describing a preferred embodiment of it, I have done so by way of example only, as there are many modifications and adaptations which can be made by one skilled in the art within the teachings of the invention.

Having thus complied with the statutes and shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, what I consider new and desire to have protected by Letters Patent is pointed out in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A hermetic seal for an electrical switch having an operating plunger comprising: a hermetically sealed casing in which the electrical switch is mounted; an operat- 'aipoms'aid" shaft 'andjourna'led-upom the' outer surfaceof said bushing; dwells upon said cam exteiiding-axiallybf said shaft; spring means urging saidoperating lever into operating engagement with said cam; and a hermetic seal for said shaft, comprising a sleeve of resilient material encompassing the shaft Within the bushing and bonded to the shaft and to the bushing in spaced apart bands.

2. A hermetic seal for an electrical switch having an operating plunger comprising: a hermetically sealed casing in which the electrical switch is mounted; an operating lever pivotallymounted within said casing and hearing against the operating plunger of the switch; ,a bushing fixed in a wall of said casing and extending inwardly therefrom; a shaft journaled in said bushing and extending out of said casing; a cam fixed upon the inner end of said shaft; spring means urging said operating lever into operating engagement with said card; a hermetic seal for said shaft comprising: a sleeve of resilient material encompassing the shaft within the bushing; a liner within said resilient material encircling the shaft and extending from one end of the material into juxtaposition to the other end thereof; a liner within said bushing encircling said resilient material and extending from said other end into juxtaposition to said one end thereof; a bond between said resilient material and shaft at said one end of the material; and a bond between said resilient material and said bushing at said other end of the material. Y

3. A hermetic seal as specified in claim 2, in which the resilient material is silicone rubber and the shaft and bushing liners are composed of a material to which silicone rubber will not bond.

4. A hermetic seal as specified in claim 3, in which the shaft and bushing liners are composed of polytetrafluoroethylene.

5. A hermetic seal for the operating shaft that projects out of a hermetically sealed casing in which an-electric switch mechanism is housed, comprising: a hollow bush- ,ing hermetically sealed in the casing; an operating shaft disposed concentrically in said bushing and'extending therebeyond; a sleeve of elastomer surrounding said shaft and disposed within said bushing; a chemical bond securing the sleeve to the shaft in a band located at one end of the elastomer; and a second chemical bond securing the sleeve to the bushing in a band at the other end of the elastomer.

6. A hermetic seal as specified in claim 5, in which the electric switch mechanism carries a push button by which the switch is operated and in which the shaft carries a cam by which the push button is actuated as the shaft is rotated.

7. A hermetic seal as specified in claim 5, in which the switch mechanism is push button operated and in which the shaft carries an operating bar by which the switch means is operated as the shaft is moved axially through the bushing.

8. A hermetic seal for a shaft, comprising: a bushing containing a cylindrical cavity of length greater than its diameter; a shaft extending through said bushing and concentrically through said cavity; an elastomer sleeve surrounding said shaft and filling said cavity; a chemical bond securing said sleeve to said shaft in a band at one end of the elastomer; and a chemical bond securing said sleeve to said bushing at the other end of said elastomer.

9. A hermetic seal as specified in claim 8, in which the elastomer is silicone rubber and in which there is a liner on the shaft and a liner in the cavity composed of material to which silicone rubber will not bond, thereby to define the bands in which the silicone rubber bonds to the shaft and bushing during vulcanization.

101A hermetic seal as specified in claim 8, in which a liner lines the cavity from one end thereof into juxtaposition to the other end thereof, and a liner embraces the shaft from adjacent said other end into juxtaposition to'the first'said end and in which said liners are composed of a material to which the elastomer will not bond during vulcanization.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,460,695

I-Ienn essy Feb. 1 1949 15 2,520,288 Shand et a1 Aug. 24,1950 i 2,547,630 7 ;Evans Apr. 3,1951 

